by Becki Willis
“Genny may have had a headache and been running late!” she snapped. But the ice was thawing. The ball was melting, losing its ability to bounce. She felt foolish, having suspected the worst of him.
Her voice softened. “Genny may or may not have over-reacted.”
Cutter stepped behind the desk and turned her chair to face him. He knelt beside her and touched her hair. “The truth is, I did have second thoughts about kissing you,” he admitted softly.
Genny’s heart smarted, until she heard him continue. “I had second thoughts. Third thoughts.” His finger slid over her cheek. “Fourth. To be honest, kissing you again is all I can think about.”
Clearing her throat, Madison broke into his eloquent words. “You two may or may not have forgotten. I’m sitting. Right. Here. ”
Genny hid her face in embarrassment, tucking her flaming cheeks against his neck. But Cutter spun on his knee and faced Madison with a broad smile. “Hey, there, Maddy, how ya doing?”
Madison chuckled and replied, “A little confused, but I’m good. And obviously you are doing just fine, my friend.”
Cutter laughed a pleased little laugh and pressed a kiss onto the top of Genny’s hair. Her head flew up and she pushed at him, almost sending him toppling. “Stop this foolishness and go sit down,” she said sternly. “I was having a conversation with Maddy.”
Cutter took it all in stride. He winked at Madison and said, “She takes this age thing seriously. Thinks she can boss me around.” He ignored the way she glared at him and lumbered to his feet, but not before patting her on the shoulder. The patronizing gesture did nothing to ease the look in her eyes.
“As cute as you two are, I really do need to know what’s going on,” Madison insisted. “Not between the two of you,” she was quick to clarify. “That much is obvious.”
Genny addressed her friend, ignoring the man who stood beside her, grinning like a fool. “As I was trying to tell you before we were so rudely interrupted, the calls have escalated. Two nights ago, someone was snooping around the house and woke me up at two in the morning. Last night, they came quite a bit earlier and started a small fire in a bucket. Not enough to do any harm, mind you. Just enough to get my attention.”
Maddy’s nose flared in distaste. “Pembrook?” she guessed.
“Maybe. Or maybe it was Barry. You know how he has that ridiculous grudge. He... said some things yesterday.”
“We should call Brash,” Madison said.
A deep voice sounded from the door as it pushed inward. “No need. I’m already here.”
“Oh goody, the gang’s all here,” Genny mumbled beneath her breath.
“Hey, sweetheart.” Brash stopped by Maddy’s chair and deposited a kiss onto her upturned lips. He greeted Cutter with a friendly handshake. To Genny, he apologized.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t available when you called last night. I sent Officer Perry because I knew he could get there before me.”
Genny rolled her eyes. “Oh, he rushed right out.”
Brash chuckled at her less-than-enthusiastic response. “I’ve heard the stories, especially about the water tower. And I remember the window incident. Tommy loved to tell that story.”
“We never could convince the man he was only trying to fix the window, not sneak in. Berry Perry only remembers his version of the event.”
“Berry Perry? I haven’t heard that nickname in years!” Brash hooted.
Genny grinned. “To be honest, I hadn’t thought of it in years. It just popped out.”
“Oh my gosh, I had forgotten about that!” Maddy laughed, hands to her mouth.
Cutter stood to the side, listening to the interchange between the other three. A frown marred his handsome face. He did not like being left out of the conversation.
“I’ve never heard that nickname,” he said, breaking into their laughter.
“It was a senior prank,” Brash explained, “with help from a couple of junior friends, Tommy Evans included. We had a bumper crop of blackberries that year, so we collected as many as we could and put them inside an empty beer keg. We hung it from a tree and let word slip that a bunch of kids was partying out by the river. When Perry came to bust us, we let him ‘discover’ our keg. He grabbed for the keg, it tipped over, and berries fell out all over him. He had a purple face and hands for two days!”
“Rumor had it he never did the stains out of his uniform,” Genny remembered with a giggle.
“Berry Perry,” Brash concluded. “I’ll rib him about it when I get back to the station.”
“Don’t let him know I reminded you,” Genny cautioned. “He already has a twenty-year-old grudge against me.”
Brash sobered instantly. “He didn’t handle the case inappropriately, did he?”
“As much as I’d like to report otherwise... no, Brash. He was actually quite professional, after we got a few obligatory insults out of the way.”
Cutter broke in with, “You’ll explain that remark later, by the way.”
Brash looked over at the younger man with a teasing grin. “That’s right. You were still in Kindergarten when all this took place.”
Cutter stood his ground, refusing to be bothered by the good-natured heckling. “Not quite,” he said smoothly. An edge slipped into his voice as he continued, “But I catch up fast, old man.”
Madison leaned over and said in a too-loud whisper, “I’ll catch you up to speed later. It’s really good.”
Genny threw her hands upward, clearly exasperated. “Oh, for Heaven’s sake. Why don’t you just say it and get it over with? Cutter and I kissed. Big deal.”
“Hey, to some of us, it was a pretty big deal,” Cutter said in mock offense. Maddy nodded in vigorous agreement.
“I know everyone thinks this is all very comical, but you may notice I am not laughing.”
“You’re right, of course,” Madison said, sobering instantly.
“I’m sorry, Genny darlin’.”
“Please, Genny, tell me more about these phone calls.”
Genny shrugged. “There’s not much to tell. The number is either blocked or comes as a generic city code, almost always somewhere different. The person never says anything. Occasionally I hear someone breathing in the background, but nothing I can distinguish. No train whistles to hint at location, no real background noise, nothing like that. They just call and hang up.”
“Have you noticed a pattern with the calls?”
“For the most part, they seem to come immediately after Home Again goes off.”
“So the show may be the catalyst,” he noted. “Home phone or cell phone?”
“Both.”
“Anything else you’ve forgotten to mention?”
“Only that Barry Redmond got in a few particularly nasty barbs yesterday.”
“What were the barbs?” Brash wanted to know.
Wishing she could recall her last words, Genny glanced at Cutter before looking away again. “He made a remark about me and Cutter. And-And he said he had warned Tommy. He said I was nothing but white trash.” Her voice fell on the last words.
Cutter’s hands clenched at his sides. Brash frowned. “Do you think he was the one to write the message on the dumpster?”
“Again, I wish I could say yes. But when I asked him the same question, he didn’t seem to know what I was talking about. Sadly enough, I believed him.”
“You thought there were two people at your house Saturday night. So unless Harris has made a friend in town, that lets him off the hook, at least for the first incident.”
“I hate to say this,” Madison pointed out, “but your stalker could be some random fan we aren’t even aware of. With the Centennial Celebration going on, there are a ton of extra people in town.”
Genny scrubbed her hand across her forehead. “Tonight is Tuesday night. I wonder what joys are in store for me tonight?”
“Maddy, you’ll have to count us out tonight,” Cutter said unexpectedly. “Genny, I’m coming to your house to wa
tch the show.”
Genny laughed tightly at his matter-of-fact attitude. “Oh, you are, are you?”
“Yes, I are,” he said smartly. “I’ll bring pizza. And wine. Red or white?”
She wished he would stop talking about dinner and wine. It sounded too much like a date. This was not a date.
“That’s a good idea, Cutter,” Brash broke in. “You can answer when they call, throw them off their game.”
“Sounds like you two have it all settled then,” Genny said coolly. She gave Maddy an exasperated look. “I think they just hijacked your case.”
Chapter Eleven
Cutter arrived that evening with a box of steaming hot pizza, a chilled bottle of wine, and a charming smile. Genny concentrated on the pizza, sniffing the air in approval.
“Smells yummy.”
“Me or the pizza?” he grinned.
“The pizza.”
“Hey, I took a shower before I came. I even put on deodorant and cologne.”
“Yeah, but you still have that whole boy-cooties stank going on,” Genny teased lightly.
Genny had decided to forgive him for recent transgressions — standing her up on Monday, telling Maddy about their kiss, his high-handed approach with Brash on how to deal with her stalker. She was still working on the Callie Beth issue, but she decided not to let it ruin their evening.
They kept up the light banter and easy conversation over dinner. Genny told him about an incident that happened at the café and Cutter shared frustrations over a new welding job he had taken. They discussed the events yet to come for the Centennial Celebration and how busy town was. By the time Home Again’s theme music started, the pizza box was empty, the wine half-gone, and apple turnovers were hot from the oven. Curling up on one end of the sofa, Genny set the plate of treats between them on the cushions.
“I’m glad you tucked your feet beneath you. I don’t want your stinky feet getting in my apple turnovers,” Cutter teased.
In retaliation for making such a comment, Genny stretched her leg out and waved her foot over the plate. “There. Girl cooties,” she informed him smartly.
“Doesn’t bother me at all.” To prove it, Cutter picked up a pastry and took a huge bite. The apple filling was hot and scalding, but he cooled it down with a spoonful of cold ice cream.
“I still don’t know how you do that,” Genny clicked her tongue in wonder.
“Told ya’,” he said, eying the lounge clothes she wore. His eyes lingered on the chili pepper top. “I like it hot.”
“Shh, the show is starting.”
Halfway through the weekly edition, Genesis gave a sigh of relief. “I’m glad this was the first reveal tonight,” she said during commercial break. “At least they talked more about something actually related to the renovation, less about ‘Gennecut’.”
“What’s Gennecut?”
She looked at him in surprise. “You haven’t heard?”
“Heard what?”
“That crazy term they gave us. We even have a hashtag.” Her tone was half-embarrassed, half-apologetic.
“What’s a hashtag?”
This time she stared at him in shock. “Do you live under a rock? Twitter? Social media? You know, hashtags.”
“I have a life; I don’t need social media.”
“The rest of the world isn’t so lucky,” Genny informed him. “Many people’s lives revolve around spreading information, true or false, via the world wide web.”
“So what’s a Gennecut?”
“That’s us,” she admitted uncomfortably. “You’ve heard of Kimye? Brangelina? TomKat? We’re Gennecut. Genesis, Genne. Cutter, Cut. Gennecut.”
An amused smile broke out on Cutter’s face. “Aw, how sweet!” he pretended to gush.
“Sweet? It doesn’t bother you?”
“Why would it bother me?” he grinned. “Apparently, we’re a power couple, Genny darlin’.”
Genny stared at him with something close to amazed horror. He did not seem in the least bit concerned that their names were being linked together romantically, and on such a grand scale. To her, it was not only embarrassing, but also a tad bit condescending. “You’re nuts,” she declared.
“Been called worse,” he quipped.
“Seriously, you’re crazy.”
Cutter merely grinned. “Sounds like something all the country crooners sing about. I’m crrraazzy over yooooou.” He sang loud and off-key to a lyric he obviously just created.
Genesis laughed aloud. “Don’t give up your day job, buddy. I don’t think you’ll make it as a country singer.”
“Don’t need a job, now that I’m part of a power couple. Is that a paying gig, by the way?”
“Not hardly!” she laughed. “You, Cutter Montgomery, are nuts.”
His smile was smug. “I beg your pardon. That’s Mr. Gennecut to you, madam.”
Their laughter waned as the show ended. Her phone would most likely be ringing soon. The mystery caller normally called within thirty minutes of the closing credits.
When her cell phone jiggled fifteen minutes after the show, Cutter grabbed it up. Smacking on imaginary gum, he pretended to be a harried convenience store worker, “HandyMart. Can you hold, please? I got a man trying to pay for a twelve pack of beer while holding a squirming baby. One of ‘em is ‘bout to hit the floor, and I’m thinking it might be the kid.”
Knowing he had it on speakerphone, Genny bit back her laughter, but her eyes went wide at his unexpected method of handling her prank caller. She could practically hear the confusion on the other end of the silent line. Even the resulting ‘click’ quivered with uncertainty.
A few seconds later, her phone rang again.
“HandyMa— aw, hell, what did ya do that for?” Cutter cut off the call, pretending to be in the middle of a crisis.
This time, a giggle did escape Genny.
A full two minutes lagged between the last cell phone call and the one coming in on her home phone line. This time when he answered, Cutter’s voice was short and clipped. “The Sister’s Police Department. How can I direct your call?”
The caller slammed down the phone. Cutter turned to Genny with a satisfied smirk. “That should be all the calls for tonight.”
“Brilliant, I must admit. I would never have thought to say those things.”
The smirk fell from his handsome face. “Unfortunately, it may mean they decide to pay a visit in person.”
She tried to disguise her alarm, but it was evident in her voice. “So what now?”
“Now we wait. You can go on to bed whenever you like.” He made a shooing movement with his fingers. “I’ve got this.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Didn’t I mention that I was staying the night on your couch?” Cutter stretched his long legs out, propping them onto the coffee table as he folded his arms behind his head in leisurely fashion.
“No, you did not! And you will do no such thing!”
“Relax, Genny darlin’, Brash and I have all the details worked out. I’ll be right here in case something happens. And he’ll be here the minute I call.”
“There is no way you are staying here tonight.” She jumped from the couch and fisted both hands upon her curvaceous hips. “Do you have any idea how people will talk, seeing your truck here all night?”
Having anticipated her argument, Cutter had a smooth reply ready. “That’s why he dropped me off earlier. My truck is parked in my own driveway.”
“But-But...” She sputtered for a hapless moment, clearly distressed. Inspiration finally struck. “But what if there is a fire? Did you think about that?”
“I’m not the only person on the fire department,” he answered calmly. “And if it’s bad enough that they need me, too, I could always take your car to the station.”
“This is ludicrous.”
“And hopefully effective. Just go about your nightly ritual and pretend I’m not here,” he advised.
“Oh, sure, like it
’s perfectly normal to have male guests sleep on my couch.”
He hiked a quizzical brow. “Where do they normally sleep?”
“They don’t! And pull your mind out of the gutter,” she admonished. “I see that smirk and know what you’re thinking.”
“Which is?”
“That I — oh, never mind.” Genesis was clearly aggravated at his teasing. “Just shut up.”
“Genny darlin’, you’re getting all bent out of shape. Why does my sleeping on your couch make you so nervous?” He tugged on her hand, causing her to fall onto the cushion beside him in an undignified heap.
“I’m not nervous,” she lied, struggling to a sitting position as she straightened her clothes.
“You act like a long-tailed cat in a full room of rocking chairs.”
“I just don’t want to feed the rumors mills. And even if your truck isn’t outside, people have a way of finding these things out. There’s no reason to make matters worse where the whole Gennecut mentality is concerned.”
“So you’re saying when I really do stay over for the night, I need to park my truck behind the house?”
“Yes.” When she realized his implied meaning, she quickly amended her answer. “No! Oh, stop it. Just stop it.” She pushed up from the couch and started to storm from the room amid his chuckles. She turned back to snatch up the plate of apple turnovers.
The smile fell from Cutter’s face. “Hey, there’s no reason to get nasty about it,” he objected.
All joking aside, having Cutter in the house for the night created mixed feelings.
Part of her felt safe and cozy. It was nice, knowing he cared enough to camp out on her couch for the night. She knew he would protect her from any danger that might come her way.
Part of her felt pampered, if not a tiny bit patronized. Having her own knight in shining armor was nice, even if it suggested she could not fight her own battles.
And part of her was terrified. Not because of a would-be prowler or the rumors that could stem from tonight. Not even because Cutter might take advantage of the situation. She was most frightened of her own response, should he try. She was not at all certain she would have the willpower to resist him, and that thought alone terrified her.
